One More Time on the Money

The United Slate folks still can't figure out this money thing, so here it is as plain as I can make(and i'm also typing this real slow for good measure):

0ver $500,000 in grience wins at UPS
+
Over $500,000 in grievance wins in Freight
+
Several tens of thousand of dollars in miscellaneous "white paper" contract grievance wins.

=Over ONE MILLION DOLLARS

Let's talk money

Apparently the United Slate is confused by some numbers wev've put out in regards to grievance awards. Flyers that have been distrubuted by Members First in freight and UPS each make reference to over $500,000 in grievance awards. In our previous post we pointed out that Local 728 has won over one million dollars for our members over the last 3 years. So which is it they ask? So here are the rough numbers broken down. In both Freight and UPS Local 728 have have won over $500,000 in grievance settlements for various contract violations and backpay. In "white paper" (waste,school bus , transit etc.) contracts, an undetermined several tens of thousands of doillars have been won, but the specific amount is harder to determine. Whatever the amount, it exceeds one million dollars. Still a fact.

Facts are Pesky Things

With the ballots being mailed today in the Local 728 officers election, the mudslinging is sure to hit a fever pitch. In anticipation of the coming storm of untruths, here on some FACTS that are absolutely true and verifiable:

IT IS A FACT that the overwhelming majority of grievances processed by Local 728 are won in favor of the grievant.

IT IS A FACT that Local 728 has won over ONE MILLION DOLLARS in grievance pay for for Local 728 members over the last 3 years.

IT IS A FACT that Local 728 has reversed a 20 year membership decline under Randy Brown.Had the layoff in freight not happened, Local 728 would have over 8,000 members. As it stands though, Local 728 has seen a net gain of 1300 members due to organizing and aggresive membeship drives.

IT IS A FACT that Local 728 has a 95% win rate in arbitrations.

IT IS A FACT that Local 728 has worked in partnerships with the International union on a number of campaigns including organizing, political action, and corporate campaigns.(ie. the notion that Local 728 is somehow estranged from the International union is bunk)

If anyone tells you any different, THEY ARE A LIAR.

Local 728 Members Hit Back Against Lies

The Drummond Slate Goes Over the Edge

Elections are about the free exchange of the ideas and FACTS. When one side decides to resort to outright falsehoods, it is the duty of all parties to take them to the political woodshed and chastise them for dishonesty.

The Drummond Slate has consistently been willing to resort to fabrications and falsehoods during this campaign. Recent actions of the Drummond Slate have moved them from the catagory of petty liars to people willing to say anything to get elected, even if it means damaging our union. Yesterday, Mike Drummond's slate posted the above image and caption on their Facebook page.In the post the Drummond slate acuses President Randy Brown of "Randy Brown closed our Savannah Office supposedly to save money and used the savings to funds his Campaign for Members First Slate."

Making such a statement crosses the line. Falsely accusing a union officer of illegal activity without a shred of evidence should bring the accuser's credibility as a candidate into question. Local 728 has been through multiple routine audits from both the International Union and the Independent Review Board without even a hint of any sort of impropriety. Not only is spreading misinformation like this poisonous in a campaign, it also undermines members faith in their union as an organization and will potentially be used in misinformation campaigns by union busters during organizing campaigns.

Local 728 members deserve an answer from Mike Drummond as to whether he endorses spreading lies about our union. He hasn't been willing to withdraw and own up to his other lies, so this writer won't be holding his breath.

"I said What?!"

If you are entering or leaving work and see the "Disunited" slate campaigning at your gate, watch out for cameras. If you are not careful you may end up as a talking head on their website listed as one of their supporters. To make matters worse, you will probably labeled with a quote you may have never said such as,"I support Alan Lamb and the United Slate 100%." While on the campaign trail, several members have complained to Members First campaigners that they had had conversations with various "United" Slate candidates and had their picture taken while they were talking. Their pictures were then put on the United Slate's website and a completely made up quote was put underneath their picture. I guess it's understandable for the United Slate feels like they need to manufacture support (they sorely need it), but it isn't making them any friends.For the record, everyone who appears on the Members First supporter page has signed a petition committing to support the Members First Slate.

Drummond Slate Comes Clean On One Lie

A screenshot of the Drummond Slate admitting they lied on facebook...Priceless.